Federal Law Enforcement Job Guide

The FBI is the law enforcement arm of the Department of
Justice. It investigates federal crimes such as bank robbery,
organized crime, civil rights violations, kidnapping, terrorism,
drug violations, and hundreds of other categories. The FBI has 59
field offices around the country. The FBI has the following
career paths available to Special Agents:

* ACCOUNTING - Requires a college degree with a major in accounting.
All applicants to this career path must be qualified to take the
CPA examination.

* ENGINEERING/SCIENCE - Requires at least a BS degree in mechanical,
computer science, or electrical engineering. Other science
related four-year degrees may also be accepted.

* LANGUAGE - Requires a four-year college degree. The applicant
must be fluent in at least one foreign language as determined by
the FBI.

* LAW - Requires a law degree from an accredited law school.

* DIVERSIFIED - Requires a Bachelor's or advanced degree in any
field of study. The applicant must have two to three years of
work experience, depending on the degree held.

Special Agents enter the service at the GS-10 level. Supervisory
positions are available up to and including the GS-18 level.

The FBI also has several non-agent positions available in the
following fields:
Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Cryptology, Languages,
Photography and Physics. Entry to the positions is at the GS5-7
level. These positions require four-year degrees.

The agency also has various clerical positions available.
Applicants for the position of Special Agent must be at least 23
years of age but must not have reached their 35th birthday.
Applicants must be a citizen of the United States and must be in
excellent physical condition.

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE

BORDER PATROL AGENT

Border Patrol Agents are responsible for enforcing the immigration
laws of the United States. Agents patrol to check for illegal
border crossings, operate vehicle check points, inspect trains,
ships, aircraft, etc. for immigration violations, and perform
other duties. Entry level openings usually require duty along the
border of the United States and Mexico in Arizona, Texas,
California and New Mexico.

GENERAL EXPERIENCE (GS/5 LEVEL)

Applicants must have one year of volunteer or paid experience
comparable in difficulty to the GS/4 level. This experience must
show your ability to learn law enforcement methods, etc. One year
of college study leading to a bachelor's degree may be substituted
for three months of general experience; two years for six months;
three years for nine months; and four years for the entire year of
general experience.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE (GS/7 LEVEL)

Applicants must have one year of law enforcement experience
equivalent to the GS/5 level. An advanced degree in law or a law
enforcement related field can be substituted for the whole year of
specialized experience.
The maximum entry age for Border Patrol Agents is 37. Applicants
may not have passed their 37th birthday at time hired. This age
limit may be extended if the applicant has previous federal
civilian law enforcement experience.

Applicants must know or be able to learn Spanish.

Applicants must pass a written test and a test to determine the
applicant's ability to learn Spanish. A Spanish oral test is
given to those applicants who speak Spanish. Applicants must also
submit to a pre-employment physical and interview.

A thorough background investigation will be conducted on all
applicants.

New agents ar appointed to the GS/5 or GS/7 level. Promotions to
the GS/9 level are possible. Promotions to higher grades are
through "servicewide" competition.

Prospective applicants can receive an OPM Form 5000-AB Test
Scheduling Card from any Federal Job Information Center listed
under "U.S. Government" in the telephone directory. Applicants
may also call the "College Hotline" at 1-900-990-9200. There is a
per minute charge for "900" number calls.

The Marshals Service is also an arm of the Department of Justice.
The Service provides security in federal courts, serves federal
court orders, apprehends and transports federal prisoners,
administers the Witness Security Program, and other duties. The
beginning position is the Deputy U.S. Marshal at the GS 5/7
level. This position requires a Bachelor's degree.

The ATF enforces all federal laws relating to alcohol, tobacco and
firearms, including explosives and arson. The ATF also inspects
breweries, wineries, explosives plants and other related
industries. Entry is at the GS 5/7 level and requires a
Bachelor's degree.

This agency controls the entry of merchandise into this country.
It investigates fraudulent crimes and activities that defraud the
U.S. Government of revenue. It investigates the illegal
importing and exporting of drugs, currency, arms and the exporting
of technology. Applicants to this agency are subjected to a
thorough background investigation. Entry is at the GS 5/7 level
and requires a Bachelor's degree.

The Secret Service is charged with protecting the President, Vice
President, former presidents, visiting heads of foreign countries,
and their families. The Secret Service also enforces all laws
concerning counterfeiting and forgery of government checks and
other related criminal activities. The Service is also
responsible for White House security. Entry is at the GS 5/7
level and requires a Bachelor's degree.